New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-12
GOSSIP AT THE CAPITAL.
SOME GLElPSES OF THE VENERABLE COR
CORAN.

| A
NOTES.
, WASHINGTON, June 11.--It now looks as II Mr. W
W. Corcoran were going to rally from his paraytiC
attack and though he will again be fully him
self he may live some time. His illness recalls
number OF incidents in his career which are interest
ing
The large house in which he lives was originally
purchased for Daniel Webster and presented to the
Massachusetts, statesman by admiring friends. Here
Webster resided while he Secretary of State, and
many of the most brilliant entertainments of that
time were held within it's walls When Webster lett
the Cabinet he found he could not afford to keep up
so extensive an establishment 1t was sold therefore,
and Mr.. COrcorau became the purchaser COrcoran
was warm persona! friend OF Webster and had q
great admiration tor his abilities This friendship and
admiration Mr. Webster tested very frequently, tor
whenever he was In need of money, which was sten,
he would 90 to Dir. Core0ran with note and never
failed to get the money. The statesman thus got into
his bankeI-frend's debt TO the amount of several
thousand dollars without having any idea OF how be
was eVer going to return the money. Mr.. Corcoran,
however. closed up their business relations in his own
way, tor the day after Webster tad made his great
speech the Missouri Compromise he sent largo
package of papers to Mrs Webster containing every
evidence of her husbands indebtedness TO him.
At the beginning of the Mr. Corcoran's South
ern sentiments were we'll known and the Government
seized upon the Art Gallery Building and used for
the Qunrtermaster Generals Office. Secretary stanton
also gave orders Tor the patton OF Mr. Corcoran
private residence tor hospital purposes, but the old
gentleman succeeded in thwarting the great War
Secretary by neat artiiee Through friend ne
heard of the order aud drove to the residence
OF Count Montholon, tine French Minister to whom he
told the story and proered the Of his residence,
free OF all expense. as long the war should last.
Inc Count called of his secretaries and with his
legation flag entered Mr. Corcorans carriage and
drove Immediately 10 the house. just they entered
the building and uniurled the flag the hall, two
officers from the War Department came up the steps
| with an order to take Possession. Tue Count calmly
informed them that it now the residence OF the
French Minister and that Mr. C0rcoan was mis- guest.
There pretty share Words bat the flag OF
! France aoated there and had to be respected. AL
though Stanton was deeply religious man, it Is sad
that he tell from grace when the officers returned 10
the department aud made their report But here the
| matter ended
The week after he had placed the Fre-ch Minister
! in his house Mr. Corcpran sailed tor Europe to JOIN
his daughter ana her husband who were in France
Mss CorcoraL married $50 George Eastis, then
Repre- sentative from Louisiana, and brother OF the
present Senator from that State. OF course he
followed the fortunes OF the ConieGeracy, and, with
his wife, board the Trent when size was over
hauled by Commodore Wilkes who took oft the Con-
iederate ENJOYS to England, Messrs. Mason aud
Sli leiL Mr.. Eustis being one OF the attaches was
taken on with Mason and Slilell and brought to this
country, but was at released by order of Presi-
dent Lincoln. Mrs Eustis and her husband both died
at Cannes in 1857, leaving three children who now
constitute Mr.. COrcOTan's household
Mr.. Corcoran has greatly improved his house since
he purchased it OF Mr.. Webster He has resided in II
since HE return from Europe In 1868, and his HABITS
OF lie have been extremely regular and simple. lie
has goue to the bank in the morning Tor couple OF
hours duilng which he always closeted with his
confidential secretary, Mr.. Anthony hyde, who has
served him for thirty nine years Then he would ride
ont, call at the Louise Home or visit friends until
dinner tiTe usually also dropping into the Art
Gallery Tor q few moments. After dinner he would
perhaps play ie games OF ackgamnon with one OF
his grandchildren and then he would take up whist.
Some OF his connections invited every evening to
mike the whist party, which, il alers interrupted,
would usually last until about 10 O'Clock Then he
would call his man, Michael, and tell him it was time
to retire Over the door leating to his dining-roOm
hangs q portrait of tho late George Peabody. with
whom Nr. Corcoran very Intimate and with whom
az q partner he made his FIRST business venture. They
failed, bat both men subsequently became rich
Like many rich men. Mr.. Corcorsn has exercised a
personal supervision over all bis beneiactons, and
ha., in ure, dictated tho policy of the trustees
he himself hai chosen This IL said TO be particularly
the in regard to the purchase OF works OF art for
the gallery which bears his name. Mr. CorcOrau
erected the Church OF the Ascension, fine whito mar
BILE structure and the hsndsomest church edtce In
the District solely because OF his personal friendship
for the then rector ard Bishop Pinckney. The
present rector, DIR. Elliott warm personal
friend OF the late Bishop. Mr.. CoroOran has given a
great deal in private charity lie has sought out many
cases OF distress aud personally relieved them. and
he has helped mary Young business men, both with his
advice and his money.
NJ attention was called t,day to curious blunder IN
the Encyclopedia Britannica" by Professor Clarke
OF the Smithsonian Institution In this work appears
sketch OF the lite of Alenqyst, the great Swedish
novelist, written by +. w. GOsse. The latter claims
| that Alenqyist was one of the most extraordinary
characters in the history OF literature that he Is the
leading writer in the scandinavian language. but that
Ia. ha rrof 4. al M
having committed murder, tor gerry arson-alnost all
the crimes known 20 the statutes. lie escaped says
Professor Gosse "and for many years no more was
heard of him. but it Is known that he went over
to America, and under ieigned name succeeded in
being appointed private secretary to Abraham Lin
coln President of the United States. Alter LincolnS
death Alenqyist ain :e under the ban OF the law
His manuscripts, including several unpublished novels
and other literary treasures, were seized and
DESTROYED but he escaped TO Europe, where, under
} another alias. he continued TO exist short time
longer. His strange and sinister to
close In Bremen in 1866 lie another Eugene
Aram, but OF greater genius and tar more successful
This extraordinary story shown to joan G..
Nic0lav, who the private secretary of Lincoln
from the time was nomin ated till the assassination
/ lie asked whether any such man had ever been
! employed around the White House during his tune.
Mr. Nicolay promptly replied that there never was
sucn n person about President Lincoln. There were
no foreigners employed. he said at the White House
| while Lincoln was President. and the story was
absurd It's iace Tor according TO this statement OF
! Professor Iosse himself, Alenqvist must have been
seventy wears old at the time Mr. Lincoln was elected
| to the Presidency, aud it was improbable tnat ne
would employed II stranger, u foreigner, even OF
! that age, in n confidential capacity. MIR. Ncoay
/ lad seen the publication before and had been IN
J correspondence with the editors CT the Encyclo-
prdia" about it. correction will be made ia the
next edition 1t asserted that Professor Gosse got
his data from the family OF Alenqvist, whieh is prob
ablo and the misre presentations undoubtedly origi-
| nattd with the man himself.
The report that the State Department had recently
come into possession of old manuscritt OF Benja-
min Franklin, though extensively circulated In
different parts of the country Tor the last few days.
! lacks any foundation in fact. lt appears that
buadle of old papers was found in the garret of a